United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Bi-Metallic Investment Co. v. State Board of Equalization, 239 U.S. 441 (1915)

Bi-Metallic Investment Company v.

State Board of Equalization of Colorado

No. 116

Argued December 7, 8, 1915.-Decided December 20, 1915

239 U.S. 441

Syllabus

The allowance of equitable relief is a question of state policy, and if the state court treated the merits of a suit in which equitable relief is sought as legitimately before it, this Court will not attempt to determine whether it might or might not have thrown out the suit upon the preliminary ground.

Where a rule of conduct applies to more than a few people, it is impracticable that every one should have a direct voice in its adoption; nor does the federal Constitution require all public acts to be done in town meeting or in an assembly of the whole.

There must be a limit to individual argument in regard to matters affecting communities if government is to go on.

Page 239 U. S. 442

An order of the State Board of Equalization of Colorado increasing the valuation of all taxable property in the City of Denver forty percent, which was sustained by the supreme court of that state, held not to be in violation of the due process provision of the Fourteenth Amendment because no opportunity was given to the taxpayers or assessing officers of Denver to be heard before the order was made.

56 Colo. 343 affirmed.

The facts, which involve the constitutionality under the due provision of the Fourteenth Amendment of an order of the Tax Boards of Colorado, increasing proportionately the valuation of all property in the City of Denver, are stated in the opinion.